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The cars are stars at the Los Angeles auto show: Autoweek TV

We take a look at debuts from Ford, Honda, Mazda, Cadillac, Hyundai, Fiat, Subaru and Infiniti. Also, plans to bring a Formula One race to Texas are in trouble.

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to a Wednesday edition of Autoweek TV.

Today is the first of two press days for the Los Angeles auto show, and the busiest one in terms of debuts.

So let's give you a rundown of the highlights and the big stars on the West Coast. Here's Dale:

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Thanks, Julie.

Ford primed the pump yesterday with the 2013 Mustang. But the real sales horsepower for the brand comes from the redesigned 2013 Escape SUV.

The new Escape has a more aerodynamic shape and a long list of high-tech features, such as a tailgate that opens or closes when you wave your foot under the bumper.

Underneath the Escape is a platform shared with the Focus. And buyers can choose from a trio of four-cylinder engines. This new SUV goes on sale next spring.

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One of the Escape's main rivals, the Honda CR-V, is also getting a makeover.

The new CR-V is also more aerodynamic and grows slightly larger. It uses a platform shared with the Civic, and there will still be four-cylinder power under the hood.

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And, in a sign that small SUVs and crossovers are the hot thing these days, Mazda is using the L.A. show for the U.S. debut of the CX-5.

The CX-5 wears Mazda's "Kodo" design language and gets the automaker's Skyactiv engine technologies. A diesel engine is due in 2014.

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At the luxury end of the spectrum, a big car has returned to the Cadillac fold.

The Cadillac XTS is meant to replace the departed STS and DTS sedans. It uses a stretched version of the platform from the Buick LaCrosse and next-generation Chevrolet Impala.

The XTS will come in front-drive and all-wheel-drive versions. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 300 hp.

And the XTS will use the Cadillac User Experience interface, which puts most control and smartphone functions on a screen in the center of the dashboard.

The XTS goes on sale next year.

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Over at the Infiniti stand, Nissan's luxury division is getting into the seven-passenger SUV game with the JX.

Using the platform from the Nissan Altima and Maxima sedans, the JX is loaded with safety technology, including lane-departure warning and the around-view-monitor camera system. Oh, and there's a 15-speaker Bose sound system.

Under the hood is Nissan's venerable 3.5-liter V6, rated at 265 hp. It's mated to a continuously variable transmission. And you can choose between front-drive and all-wheel-drive.

The JX goes on sale next spring.

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And Hyundai doesn't want you to forget about the Azera sedan--although it has been hiding in the shadow of the Genesis and Sonata sedans.

The redesigned Azera takes some styling cues from the Sonata.

Under the hood, the 3.3-liter V6 gets a power boost to 295 hp, mated to a six-speed automatic. The rear suspension gets a new five-link design.

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And here are some other quick hits from L.A.:

-- Chevy is rolling out the Camaro ZL1 convertible. And it has set the base price for the ZL1 coupe at $54,995.

-- Subaru rolled out the BRZ concept. This is the sporty 2+2 coupe codeveloped with Toyota.

-- The Fiat 500 gets a power injection with the Abarth edition. A turbocharger and intercooler boost output to 160 hp.

-- And Jaguar unveiled the XKR-S convertible. The supercharged V8 pumps out 550 hp. Only 25 copies will come to the United States, priced at $133,000 each.

Of course, you'll find plenty of photos and more stories from the L.A. auto show at autoweek.com.

Back to you, Julie.

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Thanks, Dale.

And one quick note from the racing world. It looks like everything has fallen apart in the effort to bring Formula One racing to Austin, Texas.

Construction work on the track has stopped. And the finger-pointing has started. Get all the details at our Web site.